Molding machine



Dec. 18, 1928.

- 1,695,921 E. HARMEs MOLDING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l lill( Dec. 18, 1928. 1395,921

E. HARMEs HOLDING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 31a/vanto fwdmrcl 17a/rm@ ttozweq E. HARMES MOLDING MACHINE Dec. 1s, 192g y Filed April 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 1s, 192s.

E. HARMES HOLDING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1927 s sheets-sheet 4 bmw Dec. 18, 1928.

E. HARMES MOLDING MACHINE Filed April '9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. A18, 1928.

narran STATES PATENTV oFFlcla..V

Enti/ann nani/ins, CE wiLKiNsEUEe, PENNSYLVANIA, AssiGNoE 'ro NEW -PEoCEss MUE'ri-CAs'riNes COMPANY, A ConroEAfiioN 0E NEW JEEsEY.

` MoLniNG MACHINE.

yApplication filed. April 9,

This invention relates to foundry molding machines, and particularly, though not exclusively, to molding machines provided with facilities and mechanism for producing a complete mold, including the assembled cope and drag molds, ready for pouring- An object of the invention is to provide a novel and optionally portable power machine of the above type.

Another object is to providefsucli a niachine having an improved pattern drawing, llask stripping and roll-over mechanism, constructedparticularly tomeet certain practical foundry requirements.

Another obj ect is to provide means forgiving the Vdrag an initial lift with respect'to the drag mold.

A. further object of the invention is to provide such a machine which is simple, sturdy and novel in construction, and which isv eX- ceptionally accurate and ellicient -in operation.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear fromtliefollowing description, taken inV connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,

illustrating, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevation of one form of molding machine embodying the present invention; v

Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation, on a reduced scale, showing the parts in a dierent position; Y

Fig. 3 is a side elevation vof the machine of Fig. 2, showing the Vparts in another position; y

Fig. et is a top plan view of the machine of Fig. 1, but with the flask detached;

Fig. 5 is a frontend elevation of the machine of Fig. 1, viewed from the left of said ligure;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation through. one of the flaskraising cylinders;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, taken on the line 7-7 of 6; y'

Fig. 8l is a horizontal sectional view of the cylinder assembly, taken on the line 8 8 of F ig. 6; i

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the flask engaging end of one of the flask raising arms, and taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1. i

Referring in detail 'to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example 1927. Serial No. 182,261.

in the accompanying drawings, the machine is herein shown as including a base frame 11,

.preferably easily portable and for this purpose provided with rear wheels 12 and 13 and front wheel 15. The front wheel 15, being this instance located below the flask, is provided with a protecting cover, or sand guard 16, to prevent any sand from reaching the wheel bearings, the sand guard 16 being boltc d or otherwise secured to the flat middle portion 18 of the front cross reach 17 of the base' frame 11, over its central aperture 19, in which theffront wheel 15 is mounted.

The invention provides means forraising and lowering the flask, for drawing the pattern and stripping the mold by movingthe parts in a straight vertical line, for rolling over the llask, and for tilting the cope.

As here embodied, this mechanism preferably includes a pair of vertically movable, cylinders 20 and 21, connected by a4 rigid c ross brace 23, andinovable vertically as a single unit, in the present instance, by power, such as that furnished by compressed air. For this purpose a pairofstationary, preferably hollow f pistons are provided, rigidly mounted on the rear of the base frame 11 in vany suitable manner, such as that shown in the drawings and particularly in Fig. 6, wherein an annular flange 27 provided with bracing webs 28 has its base 29 bolted `or otherwise suitably secured to the base frame 11, and receives within it the vertically extending iXed hollow piston 80.

v Referring particularly to Fig. 6, each hollow piston 3,0 is provided at its upper end with a head 81, preferably-threadedinto the open upper end of the hollow cylindrical piston wall.` The head 31 is shown asbeing provided with ay reduced upwardly projecting central portion 32, projecting through the central opening of a packing plate 34:, whose downwardly extending annular flange 35 is adapted to compress the packing 36 between the piston and its cylinder, the pistonhead 31, for this purpose, being provided with the threaded pins 39, projecting through the packing plate 84 and cooperating with adjusting nuts 40 bearing on theupper lface of the packing plate for varying the position of thev packing plate and thereby varying the compression of the packing 86.

The projection 32 of the piston 30 is provided on its' upper end with a plurality of spaced, upwardly extending cylinder abutment stops 45, and an air admission and eX- `haust passage 47 extends centrally vertically through the piston head 8l, the lower end of vsaid passage connecting at 48 with the upper trol valve, which controls the raising and lowering` of both cylinders.

The cylinder 2O is provided with the endv closing abutment plate 50, secured to the upper end of the cylinder wall in air-tight connection therewith byfbolts 5l or other suitable means. ln the lowered position of the cylinder, the plate 50 rests upon the spaced abutment stops 45, this construction providingat all times a free and unobstructed passage for air from the conduit 49 into the expansion chamber 53 within the cylinder. In operation, the cylindersare adapted to move upwardly or downwardly, as a unit, upon their respective pistons, according to whether air is admitted into or exhausted from the cylinder expansion chamber; and, by reason of the air-tight construction, the cylindermay not only thus be raised and lowered, but may be stopped or held stationary at any stage of its upward or downward movement.

The invention provides means associated with the vertically movable cylinders 2() and 2l for raising and lowering, rolling over and tilting the flask, and for drawing the pattern and stripping the mold.

Accordingly in connection with the cylinders 20 and 21, there are provided a pair of pattern plate supporting arms 63 and 64, extending forwardly substantially horizontally and approximately parallel, respectively from the cylinders 20 and 2l, to which they are rigidly fastened by bolts G5 or any other suitable means. At their free ends the arms 63 and 64 are provided with spaced, ad-

justable pattern plate engaging abutments, herein shown in the form of threaded bolts extending upwardly through' said arms and provided with lock nuts 7l for rigidly clamping the abut-ments in adjusted position. These abutments are adapted at certain times to lift and support the pattern plate.

Also, in connection with the cylinders 20 and 2.1, the invention provides a pair of substantially parallel flask supporting arms 7 5 and 76, which extend forwardly and normally horizontally. above thearms 68 and 64, cooperating at their outer ends to support rotatably a flask, as hereinafter referred to, and which, intermediate their ends, are respectively pivotally secured at 78 and 79 to theV cylinders 2() and 21. The flask arms -7 5 and 7 6 are provided, infront and rear of the cylinders 2O and 2l, respectively, with front cross reach 81 and a rear cross reach 82,.by means of which the flask arms are connected to move as a rigid unit as hereinafter described.

The invention provides means for variably regulating the normal position or position of rest of the flask 'arms 7 and 78 with respect to the raising and lowering cylinders 20 and 2l, and as here embodied, the front cross reach 81 of said arms is, for this purpose, provided with a pair of variably positionable abutment stops, herein shown as beingin the forni of stop bolts 87 and 88,

.threaded into the front cross reach 8l, and

extending rearwardly therefromtoward the respective cylinders 29 and 2l, against which, or against a flat hardened steel abutment pla-te on each cylinder, the stop bolts are adapted to abut, to prevent further downward movement of the flask arms angularly about their pivots 78 and 79 on the cylinders. Suitable means, such as the lock Vnuts 89 and 90 on the stop bolts 87 and 88, are provided to secure said bolts rigidlyin adjusted position. I

The invention provides means cooperating with the flask arms 7 5 and 7 6, for'directing' and controlling their movement, to provide for straight line vertical movement of the lia-sk parts for drawing the pattern plate, and for assembling the mold parts and stripping the flask, and during these operations the flask arm control means provides for slow and smooth movement of the parts inavertical direction. Also, when the flask parts and pattern plate are separated, with sufficient clearancebetweenthem to permit the pattern plate to be removed from between the cope and drag, the flask arm controlling means causes one of the flask parts to move in a direction to separate it still further from its cooperating flask part, but with increased speed, and at the same time to tilt it, by changing its linear movement vertically to angular movement about the pivots 8 and 79, and by thus partially rotating it, permitting ready inspection of its interior and at the same time providing increased clearance and head room to permit the molder to set any cores which may be necessary.

To accomplish the foregoing purposes and functions, in the present embodiment of the invention, the means shown includes a pair of segments 94 and 95, spaced apart-and rigidly secured to or forming a part of the rear cross reach 82 of the .flask arms 7 5 and 76, and extending toward the rear ofthe machine. rlhese segments 94 and 95 are provided, respectively, at their upper ends, with any suitable form of cable clamps or cable securing means 96 and97, to whichthe upper ends ofv cables 98 and 99 are respectively secured.r The curved outer cable contacting faces of the segments 94V and 95 may be suitably grooved to receive and kguide the cables top 101 of the cable controlling frame 100 forv the purpose of preventing furtherupward movement of the cable, and consequently of the rearwardly extending ends of the flask `arms, and thereby changing the vvertical linear movement kof the liask arms 75 and 76 to angular movement aboutA the pivots 78 and 79 as the cylinders 20 and 21 continue to move upwardly on their pistons.

The invention provides means for rotatably supporting a flask in tlm-forward ends of the flask arms 75 and. 76, and for locking the flask in either upright or inverted position, together with meansfor clamping together the flask parts and for releasing them.

As here embodied (Figs. 5 and 9), the outer end of each flask arm is-provided with a vertical vguideway 111, which receives and guides the vertically movable guide block 112, within which is located the cylindrical bearH ing member .113, which receives anld rotatably supports the stub vshaftll'of a flask supporting bracket 116. To `the supporting bracket 116 is detachably fixed by through bolts 117,. or otherwise, the securing bracket 113 of ac ope120. Each securing bracket with respect to lthe flask arms 7 5 and 76.

113 is rigidly, though preferably detachably fixed with` respect to the cope 120.

Each trunnion or stub shaft 115 of the lcope bracket 118 is thus rotatably supported' in its guide block 112, and each guide block is vertically movable in its guideway 111.

rlhe guide blocks 112 are preferably supported by means carried by the ilaskarms 75 and 76, and variably positionableA with re-v spect thereto. As here embodied, the adjustable supporting bolts 126 have threaded engagement with the lower and router endsl of the flask arms, and their upper ends arel located in the guideways 111 below the guide blocks 112, which rest-*upon and are supported by, the bolts 126. Lock nuts 127 cooperate with the bolts 126 for rigidly maintaining them in adjusted position. Y

The invention provides means, associated with the flask supporting mechanism, for maintaining the flaskin either upright or inverted position, andat the same time, if desired, permitting the'iiask to nieve vertically .A S

here embodied, for this purpose. a guide disk 130 is fixed to the stub shaft 15, and is provided on its outer face with a groove 131 eX- tending diametrically Jthereacross, within which is slidably receivedthe inner end 132 of a spring pressed detent 134, carried, in the form shown, by the cover plate 135secured upon the flask arm over the guideway 111. An actuatinglever 137 maybe provided, if desired, for the detent l134, and is herein shown as being pivotally mounted at`139 on the guideway closure plate 140,l and having vpivotal orl pin and slot connection 141 at one of its ends with the Outer end of the spring pressed detent.

. An annularr sand shedding guard 145 is 'preferably secured uponthe disk 130, to direct. sand away from the detent, guideway and flask trunnion bearing. It will be evident from the foregoing that theflask is movable vertically with respect to the flask arms, and during any such movement it will be held against rotation by the detent'134, which, when released by lever 137, permits the flask to be roll-ed over, and maintains the flask against rotation in its inverted position by entering the remaining portion of the groove 131.k v l Cooperating with the foregoing mechanism,the invention provides means carried by the base frame 11 for supporting the assembled flask parts, patternplate, and at times the finished mold, in stationary position.

1 As here embodied, a pair of spaced frame supports are detachably mounted on the forward cross reach 17 of the base frame 11, and by means of bolts 153 passing through slots 154 in the crossr reach, said frame supports may be slidably adjusted toward and away from each other. j

The frame supports150 are preferably, though not necessarily, rectangular in shape, and are positioned below the flask to support the bottom board of the drag 161, to which the bottom board is de'tachably connected by meansof the clampingV hooks 164 formed on the lower ends of the vertical clamping rods 165 rotatably mounted in the cope securing brackets 118, and i rovided at their upper ends with actuating handles 166, by means of which they may be rotated to clamp together the assembled flask parts with the pattern plate therebetween, or to release said parts for drawing the pattern and stripping the mold.

For operating the lifting cyiindersa valve 190 is provided having an intake 192 for compressed air, and an outlet pipe 193 controlled by yhandle 191 and leading to branch pipes 194 leading in turn to the liftiniT cylinders.

lIn operation, the cope 120 is inverted by voperating the control valve to raise the liftiso' a straight line vertically, oil the l attiV on the supports 150, and the patternp'late 17() is placed on the cope and positioned accurately thereon by means of the usual pins, afterl which the inverted drag 161 is positioned vron the pattern plate.

Molding sand is introduced int-o the open drag, and packed therein in any suitable or desired manner, for example, hand ran'iming, the. surplus sand struck oil' and the bottom boardid() placed thereon and clamped by the retainingl or clamping' hooks 1li-1. The detent 1311 is now released from engagement with the groove 131 ot plate 130, and the tlask assembly is lifted as before and rolled over on trunnions 115 to upright position, in which the parts are again locked by engagement ot the spring presseddetent 134 with cooperating lock-- ing `c groove 181. The lparts are again lowered to deposit the assembly on supports 150, and theI cope 120 is now filled with sand and hand rammed.

vThe pattern is drawn by releasingthe retaining hooks 164i and operating the control valve to raise the lifting cylinders 20 and 21. As the cylinders, flask arms 75 and it and pattern plate arms 68 and S-l begin to move upwardly, the detached bottom board, di and pattern plate remain resting on the siipports 150, and the cope is drawn upwardly, in n plate until it clears the `cope patterns. Continued upward moven'ient ot the lifting` cylinders brings the pattern plate. lifting` and supportingr; pins 70 into engagement with the under side of the pattern plate ends, as shown in Filo". 2, and further upward movement of the cylinders causes the pattern plate to be lifted in a straight vertically upward direction until the drag patterns are clear of the drag'. The pattern plate 170 may now be removed in a horizontal direction from its lifting pins or supports 70. i

Further upward movement of the cylinders will cause the adjustable abutment stops 103 .of the cables 98 and 99 to Contact with the under side of the topportions 101 ot the lined stop frames 100, which they have been approaching by reason of the foregoing litingg movement. Further upward movement of the liftingl cylinders will not only increase the rat-e oi speed at which the cope is traveling upwardly, but will also change its straight line vertically upward movement into motion in a curved path about the upwardly movingl pivots 78 and 29, since the cables 98 and 99 prevent further movement; of the rear ends ot the 'llask lifting arms. This brings the parts to the position of 3 and increases the clearance of the cope. with respect to the drag, increasesthe head room for the melder to place any necessary cores, and tilts the cope upwardly to permit easy inspection of its interior. Segment-s 94: and 95 abut against cylinders 20 and 21 to prevent further movement of the flask.

The mold is closed by lowering` the cylinders to deposit the copeV on the rag, during which movement the cope retraces its path ot movement; the usual sand retaining slides (not shown) are now released, and the cylinders are again actuated to strip the cope mold by lifting the cope straight upwardly as bct'ore, and. leaving` the stripped cope mold resting on the dra g mold. The drag` flask is given an initial liftby-hook lugs 185 and then is removed from the mold, and the complete mold on the bottom board is new. removed from the supports 150 and provided with a slip-over jacket for pouring. The vcope flask is then inverted as before, t ie operations are repeated to produce another mold,

lt will be seenfrom the foregoing that the invention provides a relatively light, easily portable, power operated, roll-'over Vino-lding` machine, which uses a singleflask to produce any desired number of complete molds ready for pouring; which draws the pattern and strips the mold in such a manner as to avoid any undesirablecontact fot the parts which scrape or defacethe mold parts; which automatically tilts the cope flask, and provides adequate spacing` of the mold parts for inspection and the setting of cores; which is simple in construction vand yet provides flask moving means adequate to eliminate chattering or shaking of the mold as it is raised and lowered 5' and which insures smoothness and eiliciency in operation.

llllhat is claimed is:

1. In a molding machine, a two-part flask,

flask supporting means, means 'for moving said flask linearly, means cooperating therewith and called into action thereby for varying the path ot travel of said. flask, means for drawing;` a pattern from both flask parts, and means for assembling` the two flask parts to close the mold.

2. In a molding machine, flask handling` means includingy piston and cylinder mechanism, co-pe supporting arms pivotally mounted with respect thereto and vertically movable thereby in a straight line pat-h,l a cope flask carried by said arms, pattern drawing arms carried and moved vertically by said iiask handling` mechanism and adapted to lift a pattern plate after vertical movement of said flask supporting,` arms, and means associated with said flask handling mechanism tor tilting said flask supporting arms ait'ter vertical movement thereof. Y,

3. In a molding` machine, flask handlingl means including piston and cylinder mechanism, cope supporting arms pivotally monated with respect thereto and vertically inolvable thereby, a cope flask carried by said arms, pattern :drawing arms carried and moved vertically by said flask handling` mechanism and adapted to lift a patternv plate aft? vertical movement of said flask sup# porting arms, and means associated with said flask handling mechanism including a traveling cable provided with adjustable stop means for tilting said cope supporting arms about their pivots after a predetermined amount of vertical travel thereof.

l. In a molding machine, a. two-part flask, a pattern plate therebetween, means for lifting one of said flask parts off said pattern plate, means for lifting said pattern plate off' the other of said flask parts, and means cooperating therewith for changing the direction of travel of said first named flask part.

5. In a molding machine, a two-part flask, a pattern plate therebetween, means for lifting one of said flask parts off said pattern plate, means for lifting said pattern plate off the other of said flask parts, and means cooperating therewith for changing the direction of travel of said first named flask part and simultaneously varying its speed.l

6. In a molding' machine, a Jtwo-part flask, a pattern plate therebetween, means for lifting one of said flask parts off said pattern plate, means for lifting" said pattern plate off the other' of said flask parts, and means cooperating therewith for causing said first named flask part to tilt.

7. In a molding machine, a two-part flask, a pattern plate therebetween, means for lifting one of said flask parts ofl' said pattern plate, means for lifting said pattern 'plat-e off the other of said flask parts, and means cooperating therewith for causing said first named flask part to tilt near the upper end of its travel.

8. In a molding machine, upper and lower flask parts, means operable on upward movement to separate said flask parts from each other and also from a pattern plate, means called into action by said first named means for varying the velocity of said upper flask part, said first named means operable upon downward movement to close a mold by assembling said flask parts, and on subsequent upward movement to strip said upper flask part olf its mold.

9. In a molding machine, upper and lower flask parts, means operable on upward movement to separate said flask parts vfrom each other and also from a pattern plate, Vmeans called into action by said first named means for varying the velocity of said upper flask part, said first named means operable upon strip said flask from its mold.

downward movement to close a mold by sembling said flask parts, and on subsequent `upward movement to strip said upper flask part off its mold and impart to said lower flask part an initial stripping movement with respect to its mold.

l0. In a molding machine, upper and lower flask parts, means operable on upward movement to separate said flask parts from each other and also from a pattern plate, said means operable upon downward movement to close a mold by assembling said flask parts, and on subsequent upward movement to strip said upper flask art ofi its mold and impart to said lower fask part an initial stripping movement lwith respect to its mold.

l1. In a molding machine, upper and lower flask parts, means for securing together said upper and lower flask parts, a pattern plate therebetween and a bottom board on one of said flask parts, rotatable supporting ymeans permitting said assembled flask parts to be rolled over, means operable on upward movement to lift said upper flask part vertically, draw the pattern from both flask parts and subsequently tilt said upper flask part, said means operable on downward movement to close the mold.

l2. 'In a molding machine, upper and lower flask parts, means for securing together said upper and lower flask parts, a pattern plate therebetween and a bottom board on one of said flask parts, rotatable supporting means permitting said assembled flask parts to be rolled over, means operable on upward movement to lift said upper flask part vertically, draw the pattern from both flask parts and subsequently tilt said upper flask part, said means operable. on downward movement to close the mold and on subsequent upward movement to release both flask parts from contact with their' respective molds.` V

13. A molding machine having a two-part flask, means operable on upward movement to draw apattern from both parts of' said flask andl tilt one of said parts with respect to the other, said means operable on downward movement to assemble the two parts of said'flask together to close a mold, and operable upon subsequent upward movement to In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD HARMES. 

